Klaus Fleming

For other uses, see Klas Fleming (disambiguation).
Baron Clas Eriksson Fleming
1st Lord High Admiral of Sweden
In office
1571?[1] 1588?[2] – 1591?
Succeeded by Axel Nilsson Ryning
Lord High Constable of Sweden
In office
1591? – ?
Preceded by Gustaf Olofsson Stenbock
Succeeded by Magnus Brahe
1st Governor-General of Finland
In office
1594 – ?
Personal details
Born 1535
Pargas, Sweden (now in Finland)
Died 13 April 1597
Pojo, Sweden (now part of Raseborg in Finland)
Spouse(s) Ebba Stenbock
Children Johan Fleming

Baron Clas Eriksson Fleming (Finnish: Klaus Fleming) (1535, Pargas, Sweden (now Finland); 13 April 1597, Pohja, Sweden (now Finland)) was a Finnish-born member of the Swedish nobility and admiral, who played an important role in Finnish and Swedish history during the rise of Sweden as a Great Power. He was a trustee of Swedish kings John III and Sigismund Vasa.

The regent duke Charles (later king Charles IX) insulting the corpse of Clas Eriksson Fleming in presence of the Dowager-Governor of Åbo, Ebba Stenbock. Albert Edelfelt’s painting, 1878.

In 1569 Fleming became a member of the Privy Council, in 1571 he was made Lord High Admiral and in 1590 Lord High Constable. As the Governor of Finland and Estonia he carried the duties of the highest authority of Finland and Estonia for the Swedish realm, next only to the king of Sweden. He was a strong supporter of the legitimate king of Sweden Sigismund Vasa and therefore an enemy of Sigismund's paternal uncle, duke Charles of Sudermania, who had also laid claim to the Swedish throne.

Fleming's father – a grandson of Björn Ragvaldsson – was the Councilor of State Erik Fleming (1487–1548), also a remarkable man and King Gustav Vasa's favourite. Fleming's sons were executed in the Åbo Bloodbath of 1599.

When studying Swedish history of the time it is noteworthy to know there were many persons in similar position with the name Clas Fleming at the time. Clas Eriksson Flemming should not be confused with Claes Larsson Fleming (1592–1644), admiral and advisor to the king, or Klas Fleming (1649–1685), nobleman and politician.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Nordisk Familjebok - Riksamiral". Nordisk Familjebok at runeberg.org (in Swedish). 1916. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
  2. ↑ Hofberg, Herman; Heurlin, Millqvist & Rubensson (1906). "Svenskt biografiskt handlexikon - Klas Fleming". Svenskt biografiskt handlexikon at runeberg.org (in Swedish). Retrieved 2009-05-14. Cite uses deprecated parameter |coauthors= (help)
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